USPS tracking shows "USPS Awaiting Item" after several days of being mailed out?

[danslai]

On 2/24, I sold an item and went to the post office during the afternoon to deposit it inside the building's mail slot. Used USPS first class shipping with the label printed off ebay.

It's been 2 days since, but when checking the status of the tracking number on ebay and the USPS site, it doesn't appear to have actually left the post office yet. On ebay, the latest update on the tracking number says "PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT USPS AWAITS ITEM" at 4:11pm on 2/24, while on the USPS site, the tracking number only shows "Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item" at 1:08pm on 2/24 (which is exactly when I printed out the label).

This is unusual to me since I've never seen a delay like this when tracking a shipment for something I've sold. But I'm not a big-time seller and maybe this is the new normal for USPS now? Have others seen a similar kind of delay?

I hope the item is not lost and the tracking eventually gets updated. How long should I wait before contacting USPS about this if the status doesn't change and what's the best way to go about asking them to look into this if needed?

I realize now that I could have asked for a receipt from a clerk in order to get the package scanned in front of me. But I didn't really want to wait in the long line.

[skate_man1000]

I wouldn't worry about it right now. They probably forgot to scan it at the first location. 

[mkaczorsee]

Wait in line to get a scan.  This is your protection. 

[lamber9347]

@danslai Hopefully you have learned from your error, in not waiting in the long line, so that this never happens to you again. Hopefully. As a seller it is your responsibility to get your item shipped within your allotted time. The ONLY WAY that you can prove you did such is by that initial scan, which you never got because the line was too long. Now you will never let this happen to you again. Best of luck to you....

[danslai]

Thanks for your response. I already learned my lesson here, and next time, maybe I'll wait in the long line to ship something out.

But right now, I'm just looking to see if anyone else has seen something like this and what happened in their case. Like did the tracking get updated much later to show it was in the delivery system or it never got updated and the package was lost. And how should I approach USPS to ask them to look into this if the tracking doesn't get updated after X days? Is it best to go to the post office and speak to something there?

[danslai]

I was looking at the tracking history of my other recent shipments. On the same day that I would drop off a package at the post office, I would see an ORIGIN ACCEPTANCE scan and then a couple hours later, a PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY scan at a nearby city. So even if the ORIGIN ACCEPTANCE scan was missed, it seems it didn't get scanned yet at any USPS FACILITY.

Anyways, I guess I can't do anything for now except wait and hope. 

[richard1rst]

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@danslai wrote:

Thanks for your response. I already learned my lesson here, and next time, maybe I'll wait in the long line to ship something out.

But right now, I'm just looking to see if anyone else has seen something like this and what happened in their case. Like did the tracking get updated much later to show it was in the delivery system or it never got updated and the package was lost. And how should I approach USPS to ask them to look into this if the tracking doesn't get updated after X days? Is it best to go to the post office and speak to something there?

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Indeed I just had a similar case. eBay's tracking still shows it as "waiting item"

BUT when I access www.usps.com the tracking there shows not only the receipt at my post office but also the departure from the regional sorting main office. The lesson to be learned is not to believe eBay's info alone without also checking the post office main site.

[danslai]

I read in other threads about the discrepancies seen between ebay's and the USPS' tracking sites. But that's not what's happening here. For my case, at both sites, the tracking is saying that USPS is awaiting the item.  

[no_zero369]

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@danslai wrote:

I read in other threads about the discrepancies seen between ebay's and the USPS' tracking sites. But that's not what's happening here. For my case, at both sites, the tracking is saying that USPS is awaiting the item.  

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@danslai 

Yes, until the package gets scanned somewhere, that is all that is going to be reported by the Tracking System.  We have seen A LOT of this in the last 4 months, once the USPS got slammed with packages.  Unless you get a manual scan on drop off, it appears as though some POs are so over worked that they are not properly scanning items they remove from the drop boxes.  So this is NOT an unusual occurrence as others have the same problem.

You want that fixed?  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  You'll have to "complain" politely to the local Post Master and if enough shippers do so changes could be made.  Perhaps the PM issues a "directive" to have all items scanned as they are removed from drop boxes?

Now as to what happens next?  Who knows?  Usually a package might go through a sorting center and when that sorting machine reads the bar code as to sort/direct the package to the correct bin, THEN the scan is picked up by the Tracking System.  So perhaps the next stop on its journey and it gets a scan?  However, since that will be the "first scan" recorded in the tracking system, eBay takes the first scan as the "acceptance scan" when measuring your 'on time' shipping metric.  So if you had a LONG handling time and that scan at the sorting center is within that handling time, then you are covered.  Otherwise...

Also, we see reports on these threads that sometimes packages transit the country and never get a scan until the carrier scans the package on delivery. 

One issue that does happen is that with no acceptance scan buyers think the seller never shipped or is a scammer and they get nervous and file for a refund, etc.  Let's hope that doesn't happen here.

So as OP have noted, not much one can do at this point but sit back, worry😳, worry some more😱, get worked up 😵 and WAIT!  😋😁😎✌️  Grab an adult beverage and sit back and watch 'the show!"😂

Hang in there!  USPS loses SO few packages, this is going to work out OK!👍

[heartsdesirefiber]

If your local PO has a self serve kiosk, you can now get a receipt for prepaid shipping. No waiting in lines.

Other>>Scan Prepaid Label.  Answer a question about content.  There is a barcode scanner on the front of the Kiosk below the display. No need to type in the numbers just scan the label barcode.  Choose "continue" (for more packages to scan) or "finish" and then "Print." You will get same receipt as if you went to the counter.

[no_zero369]

@heartsdesirefiber @danslai 

NO!  NO!  and NO!

The scan at the APC is NOT an official scan.  Please see the picture I took of one of the screens in the APC process.

The point is that I could have an insured package, scan it with the APC system and then walk out the door only to later file an insurance claim.  So that scan is only preliminary until the USPS scans the item once it is removed from the collection box.  THAT, backroom, scan is the official 'acceptance" scan, IF the USPS bothers to do it!

[jonlyd]

This exact situation happened to me. It's been 13 days.  We had a storm in Texas. I went to the post office and inquired.  They could not tell me more, except possibly it didn't get scanned but did get sent.  (how can that work????)  they gave me a local consumer affairs number and I have  this toll free number for tracking-800-275-8777  . 

[danslai · Accepted solution]

Update on my situation. Today (2/28), there is an update on the USPS site for my tracking number for "Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility" in the buyer's state (different than mine). On ebay's tracking, this update shows as "PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY". This is the first update since the one for "USPS Awaiting Item". So it missed getting scanned at the post office I dropped the package off at and didn't get scanned either at any USPS facility in my state.

So there is hope for others in the same situation as me. I feel very relieved now as this had worried me a lot for the past several days.

[bellsfolly]

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to report what's happened with me today.  I sold an item on ebay, paid (to be withheld from payout) and added insurance and signature required (this was an expensive item.)  Took it to the local post office today, stood in line, the clerk scanned it in and gave me the receipt.  Everything looks great.

But as of 6 hours later, it is still saying "Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item" on the USPS. COM tracking, as well as ebay's tracking system.  Argh! Any other time, it seems like things go smoothly, but now when I sell something quite expensive...and do everything by the book.... there is no signs of life at the usps tracking. 

I suppose all I can do is wait, keep refreshing, and hope it gets scanned tonight.  I did sign up for updates--twice--once for texts and once for email.  😖

[kh-gary]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.